Trapdoor Pistol

[milgunsguy]

Rock Island Arsenal Museum

[Dick Hosmer]

Can you imagine what it would have been like to fire that? Small wonder only three were made, though there are some fakes (the late William Locke commissioned one of them - it was on Gunbroker a few months ago). General Sherman envisioned them as being issued to the cavalry, in pairs, to be mounted on the saddle, and used, at close range, with multi-ball ammo.

Just having a bit of fun about the OM. RIA has a marvelous collection - I've been there, but not to Springfield.

[John Sukey]

The army sgt, who test fired the first one, (50-70) broke his wrist and that was the end of that project.
However Hollywood didn't give up. One, in 45-70 was made for the movie Treasure Island, used by "Long John Silver" though it was obviously a blank firer. I suppose because it looked like a pirate gun with that big hammer.